U.S. Open Cup Semifinal: Colorado Rapids Host St. Louis CITY at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park

The Colorado Rapids host St. Louis CITY SC on Wednesday evening in a clash that will decide which team goes to the 2026 U.S. Open Cup final. The match will be played at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado, on September 16 at 9:30 p.m. ET (6:30 p.m. PT), and the winner will play the final on October 21 against Columbus Crew or Orlando City.

According to mlssoccer, Colorado reached this point after a 1-0 win over Union Omaha, a 2-2 draw and shootout win over Colorado Springs, and a 2-0 quarterfinal victory over the San Jose Earthquakes. The club is one step away from its first U.S. Open Cup final since 1999 and has rebuilt its attack after the departure of striker Rafael Navarro, traded to St. Louis for at least $12 million.

The Rapids have brought in reinforcements such as Morgan Whittaker (a club-record transfer, reported at approximately $10.7 million), Ibrahim Sadiq and Sayed Abu Farkhi, while Paxten Aaronson is the team’s combined assists-and-goals leader with 6 goals and 6 assists. Under first-year head coach Matt Wells, Colorado aims to return to the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs as the seventh seed in the Western Conference.

St. Louis CITY paved its way through the tournament with a 4-0 win over FC Tulsa, a 2-1 road win at Chicago Fire and a 2-2 draw against Houston Dynamo that was decided on penalties in the quarterfinal. In only its fourth season of existence, St. Louis is two wins away from its first trophy; the team is led by coach Yoann Damet and comes into this match on a 15-game unbeaten run that has secured fifth place in the Western Conference.

The club used the transfer window to bring in Navarro and Carlo Holse as Designated Players and to loan U.S. striker Damion Downs from Southampton, but Navarro is unavailable for this clash as he is cup-tied with Colorado. Simon Becher is expected to lead St. Louis’s attack; he is the season’s top scorer with 7 goals and 5 assists.

The match will be broadcast on Paramount+ and CBS Sports Network, and more than just a spot in this season’s final is at stake: the winner also secures qualification for the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup, financial rewards and a trophy. mlssoccer highlights the importance of this clash for both clubs and for the outlook of their seasons.